Texas A&M University- Kingsville celebrated its student scholarship winners and the people that provided those scholarships with the unique dinner event, Conversations with the Future.

More than 150 students on scholarship got to meet each other and share their experiences.

What’s more, they got to meet and spend time with the donors of those scholarships, during a formal dinner in the Grand Ballrooms of the Memorial Student Union Building.

“All of this was to express our thanks to current donors and to inspire them for continued support of the future, while also inspiring our scholars,” said Heather Elsik, donor relations and stewardship coordinator at A&M-Kingsville.

“This event gives our students an opportunity to network with benefactors and to have real conversations about the next step in their lives…about their hopes, dreams, and gain feedback and advice from invested alumni and friends.”

Claudia Rico, a senior business major with a concentration in finance, is a recipient of both the State Farm Business and the J.E. and Evelyn Turner Scholarship. Rico said she was honored to be a recipient of both, which have helped to cover tuition and other expenses for her, and had some goals in mind for the evening.

“I want to express my deep appreciation and thanks for what they’ve done for me, and also to find out more about their companies and foundations.”

Also attending was senior history major Shari Ruschhaupt, a recipient of the David Thomas Clapper Scholarship, which she said has played a big part in earning her education at A&M-Kingsville. “I pay for school out of my own funds, and without scholarships, I wouldn’t be able to do it.” Ruschhaupt said she thinks Conversations will be a nice chance to sit down with the donors and say thanks, and to let them know that “all of us appreciate what they do for the university and what they do for us.”

Texas A&M-Kingsville president Dr. Steven H. Tallant provided opening remarks.

He was followed by keynote speaker Carlos Guerra, 16- year metro columnist for the San Antonio Express-News until retiring September 2009 and a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&I University.

Guerra said among other points that providing scholarships to students is investing in the infrastructure of the state itself, noting that a person with a bachelor’s degree will earn on average a million dollars more in their career than a person with just a high school diploma.

“We must invest in human capital that is going to be the future of our state,” said Guerra.

Following dinner, five students—one from a different college on campus—spoke about what being a scholarship recipient means to them and their hopes for the future.

That was followed by the announcement of a new endowed scholarship, the Hermelinda Bocanegra Pompa Scholarship, established for $25,000.

In addition, Guerra announced his pledge of $5,000 to establish a scholarship. Both gifts serve as inspiration while also demonstrating the best plan for investing in our future, investing in our students – the leaders of tomorrow.